Chuck E. Cheese's in Summit gets a makeover

Owen Lewis (at left), 6, of Harborcreek Township plays an arcade game while Technical Manager Josh Peters, 33, of Erie moves an arcade game into position at Chuck E. Cheese's in Summit Township on April 19. The entertainment center looks to add 30 new games and 30 new booths to the showroom. JARID A. BARRINGER/ERIE TIMES-NEWS

Chuck E. has a new look -- on the sign and in the suit. And his pizza restaurant and play zone in Summit Towne Centre is getting a 4,208-square-foot addition.

The changes are part of the new look the 36-year-old company announced in July.

The Summit Chuck E. Cheese's will welcome a "contemporized Chuck E." -- along with the larger playroom -- by early May, said Michelle Chism, the director of corporate communications for CEC Entertainment, the parent company of Chuck E. Cheese's.

The new version of the company mouse wears a striped shirt and wields an electric guitar. The changed Chuck E. will appear inside and outside the building, on the entrance sign and in a new "walkaround" character who interacts with children.

The renovations began in mid-February. The restaurant has remained open, and on Friday afternoon about 20 children, parents and grandparents ate pizza and played arcade games while technical manager Josh Peters rearranged seating.

Chism said the company made changes to the Chuck E. character to make it more relevant to a modern audience.

By making more room for more games, she said the company hopes to create "more fun for every family."

Joanne Matzak, assistant manager of the Summit location, said the renovation will yield 30 new games and 30 new booths.

She said the additional space will allow the staff to host more parties at one time.

Those who grew up watching the fuzzy, animatronic Chuck E. take the stage might have to say their goodbyes. Chism said there is a chance that the traditional stage show will be replaced with a digital one at Summit Towne Centre. Other locations have switched over to the digital show and the move was met with success.

"The children love seeing a moving Chuck E. in his new form," she said.

The digital show includes a live countdown to when Chuck E. will come out and interact with the children, which she said makes it easier for them to engage in the experience.